European Olympic Commission backs Primorac for Croatian Olympic Committee presidency

Dr. Mark Stuart, president of the European Olympic Committees' Health and Anti-Doping Commission, has officially backed Prof. Dr. sc. Dragan Primorac's bid for the presidency of the Croatian Olympic Committee (HOO).

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Your past contributions to Croatian and European sports, including successful leadership of a national sports federation and membership in the Council of European Olympic Committees, testify to a deep and long-standing commitment to the Olympic movement.

In a letter of support, Stuart lauded Primorac's "deep and long-standing commitment to the Olympic movement," citing his successful leadership of a national sports federation and his membership in the European Olympic Committees' Council. "As a valued member of the European Olympic Committees' Medical and Anti-Doping Commission, you have made a valuable contribution to our work with your knowledge, experience, and dedication," Stuart wrote.

Stuart expressed confidence that Primorac's unique experience, bridging sports, medicine, and science, would be "exceptionally valuable for the further development of the Croatian Olympic Committee." The commission wishes Primorac success in his candidacy and looks forward to continued close cooperation on medicine and anti-doping efforts.

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As a valued member of the Medical and Anti-Doping Commission of the European Olympic Committees, you have made a valuable contribution to our work with your knowledge, experience, and dedication.

Primorac brings a wealth of experience to his candidacy. He is the president of the Management Board of Sv. Katarina Special Hospital, which became the first official hospital of the World Taekwondo Federation in 2024. He is also a member of the Health Commission of the Croatian Olympic Committee, president of the Croatian Taekwondo Association, and an advisor to the president of the Croatian Football Federation for health and science. Additionally, he serves as president of the Health Commission of the Croatian Volleyball Federation and is a member of the Health Commission of the World Volleyball Federation.

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We are convinced that your unique experience, which connects sport, medicine, and science, would be of exceptional value for the further development of the Croatian Olympic Committee.

His scientific and professional work focuses on athlete healthcare. Notably, he explained the molecular basis and therapeutic effects of mesenchymal stromal cells for cartilage damage in athletes and, as president of the HNS Health Commission, introduced genetic analysis for sudden cardiac death prevention in athletes. Stanford University recognizes him among the top 2% of the world's most influential scientists.

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The Commission wishes you much success in your candidacy and looks forward to continuing close cooperation with the Croatian Olympic Committee in the fields of medicine and the fight against doping in the years to come.